Are you pregnant again after having preeclampsia once already in a previous pregnancy? Post your thoughts/concerns here - there are others who share your feelings. This is also the home of our Bedrest Buddies Support group.

I am freaking out - my BP yesterday was 128/98 sitting and 117/72 lying on my side. My dr increased the Aldomet to 500mg BID and wants to see me in 3 weeks. I am only 12 1/2 weeks. Should I be worried. I'm sure I'm not helping anything by worrying like this. Anyone else with similar experience?

Therese Mom to
Jonathan - born 10/4/95 at 28 weeks due to HELLP
Angel in Heaven - Erik 12/20/02 at 29 weeks due to placental abruption
And "Baby dot" - EDD 9/11/04!

Is the aldomet bringing it down at all? Maybe it's time to change meds, I wonder? In any event, if they can get those pressures down you should be in good shape. Were you on antihypertensives with Erik?

Hang in there, lovey. If that BP doesn't come down here pretty quick, you should probably just keep calling in until they do something to get it down. HUGS!

I've been on Aldomet for a long time. I was on it with both Jonathan and Erik, in fact, my BP was never an issue with Erik. With Jonathan, it started to go up at about 25 weeks or so and really didn't do much to help.

It's so frustrating because I take it at home, with a smaller cuff and it's always lower, so I tend not to believe those. I'm going to try walking more and resting at home, see if that works, if not, I'm not sure what they'll do next - cut back on work? I have an office job, so I'm not sure they'll do that. We'll see!

Therese Mom to
Jonathan - born 10/4/95 at 28 weeks due to HELLP
Angel in Heaven - Erik 12/20/02 at 29 weeks due to placental abruption
And "Baby dot" - EDD 9/11/04!

Hi, Therese, my BP was around what yours was probably at 10 weeks, at which point they put me on Aldomet at the same dose as they just put you on. It worked very well in terms of bringing down my BP, but I had to stop taking it due to other side effects it caused in me (rare ones). So hopefully it will bring yours down too at the higher dose! Now I am taking Labetorol at a lower dose. It doesn't control my BP quite as well (it usually runs about 130/85, in that range) but I can tolerate it.

It's so scary to have your BP go up high so early on! I really was terrified a few weeks ago. I feel SO much better now, although I know that there's a long way to go (I am at 15 weeks now).

3 weeks seems like a long time to wait to be seen again, if for no other reason than it's reassuring (to me anyway!) to see a medical person and have them tell you things are better. I hope you can see someone sooner!

Therese,
My BP is always SO much higher at the dr's or hospital. I was getting 140/100 and 150/110 there, but at home it's more like 130/80. My peri thinks my home BP is much more important (I am quite anxious around hospitals and all that). I'm only 10 weeks now and he has decided not to put me on any meds as long as I'm consistently under 90 dia (at home). Apparently BP normally declines until about 18 weeks. I've already seen it go down a bit in the past 2 weeks.

It's scary dealing with this so early on! Especially with what you have been through. Is your peri reassuring and helpful? I've got mine on speed-dial [:D] and he "talks me down" whenever I need it.

I've seen a different doc each time I've been to the clinic. The one I saw in consultation was wonderful - so far the ones I've seen have been fine, but don't spend a lot of time talking to me. The nurses are very nice, tho, and when I go for my lab visits, if I have questions, they always ask a doc for me. I'm pretty satisfied so far, we'll see how it goes in a couple of weeks when I go back for my next OB check. I go next week for a lab visit and will have the nurst take my BP again! I will keep you posted. Thanks for the reply!

Therese Mom to
Jonathan - born 10/4/95 at 28 weeks due to HELLP
Angel in Heaven - Erik 12/20/02 at 29 weeks due to placental abruption
And "Baby dot" - EDD 9/11/04!